Sustainable Chemistry University of Wuppertal

All courses are conducted in English, and participants are required to submit the Bachelor's thesis in this language.

The Sustainable Chemistry Bachelor's programme will provide you with the skills to evaluate chemical syntheses and processing methods. Taught in English, it will equip you with the technical knowledge, theoretical understanding, and laboratory skills to contribute to the development of a sustainable society and industry. As a participant in the programme, you will develop a thorough comprehension of creating sustainable chemicals, materials, and processes, focusing primarily on the principles of sustainable chemistry. You will learn concepts like the destiny of chemicals and their toxicological effects on the environment and human health. Upon completion of our programme, you will have the capability to assess chemical syntheses and material production in alignment with the UN's sustainability goals, the principles of green chemistry, and the basic principles of life cycle assessment.

The winter semester is traditionally scheduled to commence on 1 October. Classes typically begin in the second week of October. A series of introductory events are held the week prior as part of the welcome week. Specialised programmes tailored to the needs of international students are also made available. Additionally, subject-specific offerings are coordinated by the student council.

The application period for applicants with an international university entrance qualification (EU and non-EU applicants) is between 15 May and 15 July. The application period for applicants with a German university entrance qualification is between 15 May and 15 October.

The Bachelor's programme is led by professors and experienced researchers in chemistry as well as industrial scientists and specialists in toxicology. We incorporate problem-based learning sessions to enhance your scientific skills.

• The programme comprises lectures and seminars as well as practical laboratory courses.
• The programme consists of 22 mandatory courses (in total 158 ECTS) as well as an industrial internship (10 ECTS)  and the Bachelor's thesis (12 ECTS).

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The University of Wuppertal maintains partnerships with almost 150 universities worldwide within the Erasmus framework and other agreements. An overview can be found here.

An industrial internship is a mandatory component of the curriculum and is to be completed during the sixth semester. The objective of this internship is to enhance the student's professional competencies beyond the domain-specific expertise, while acquiring a fundamental understanding of the routine responsibilities of chemists in a corporate setting. This internship can be undertaken at a company in Germany or abroad.

No tuition fees

The semester fee at the University of Wuppertal is 337 EUR. This includes the so-called "Deutschlandticket". This allows students to travel free of charge on buses, trams, subway trains and regional trains operated by Deutsche Bahn and other regional transport companies throughout Germany.

Housing costs in Wuppertal are typical for a major German city, but they are cheaper than cities such as Munich, Berlin or Cologne. Monthly rent for a room in a hall of residence costs between 200 and 400 EUR, and monthly rent for a room in a shared flat costs between 300 and 500 EUR. An apartment of one's own costs at least 400 EUR.

You should expect to spend around 600 to 1,250 EUR per month on living and studying. In addition to the rental costs, you will also need money for living expenses, from food, clothes, books for university and leisure activities to sports, cell phone contracts and going out. The costs for public transport throughout Germany are included in the semester fee and do not have to be paid separately.

The Sustainable Chemistry programme does not impose any admission restrictions, including the requirement of a specific grade point average (GPA) or the completion of a specific course of study. Only a university entrance qualification is necessary to enter the Sustainable Chemistry programme.

The required English level is B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or an equivalent level in an internationally recognised test, e.g. IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72-94.

The application period for applicants with an international university entrance qualification (EU and non-EU applicants) is between 15 May and 15 July. The application period for applicants with a German university entrance qualification is between 15 May and 15 October.

Life is not always straightforward and without stumbling blocks. Not giving up, facing these challenges and hurdles on your own path in life requires courage, perseverance, creativity and determination. The "Studienstiftung der Bergischen Universität Wuppertal" would like to promote these qualities and the corresponding positive attitude to life and reward them with its scholarship programme. The scholarship programme is aimed at students whose academic success is at risk for economic reasons.

Scholarships are awarded with special consideration given to personal circumstances and/or social commitment in the case of expected successful progress in studies as well as other requirements. The scholarship amount is up to 300 EUR per month. The scholarship is granted for up to one academic year. Payment is made monthly.

The University of Wuppertal also takes part in the "Deutschlandstipendium" programme, which offers funding as well.

The Career Service of the University of Wuppertal maintains a job portal on which job opportunities for students are advertised, which can be completed parallel to their studies and thus prepare them for entry into the job market.

Career Service of the University of Wuppertal

If you study in Germany, you don't automatically get a place in a student hall of residence. Living in Wuppertal is still quite cheap compared to the neighbouring cities of Düsseldorf or Cologne, but students have to find a room, an apartment or a place in a shared flat themselves. The "Studierendenwerk" in Wuppertal offers two options. For students, it offers 1,217 places in seven halls of residence, for which you should ideally apply four to six months before the start of the semester. The "Studierendenwerk" also provides information on housing offers from private tenants or online platforms.

Overview of dorms

The Career Service of the University of Wuppertal advises on questions of career orientation and career planning and supports students entering the world of work with advice and events such as job talks, excursions, recruiting days or skills workshops.

Career Service of the University of Wuppertal

Wuppertal University offers lots of support programmes especially for international students: During the first week of each semester, a welcome ceremony is held accompanied by events such as city tours, pub evenings, or trips to nearby cities. The International Students Team (IST) offers events as well as buddy programmes and language tandems. The university's own language learning institute (SLI) offers classes in German as a foreign language ranging from A1 to C1 within the common European language framework (CEFR).

The In Touch programme offers courses on German as a scientific and technical language. It includes orientation counselling, mentoring during studies and career as well as counselling services. The primary goal is to integrate and further qualify students with a refugee background professionally and interculturally, to lead them promptly to a degree that enables them to position themselves successfully on the regional and global labour market.